Crate.



PATBNTBDFEB. 19, 1907'.y

In MORGAN.

CRATE. APPLIOATION ILED JULYa, 190s.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

W/T/VESSES ATTORNEYS PATEN'IED PEB. 19, 1907.

R. MORGAN.

CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY s, 190s.

3 sELTs-SHLLT z.

#NVE/W09 ROBERT MORGAN W/ ryA/Ess l s,

ATTORNEYS PATENTBD FEB. 19

R. MORGAN. CRATE. APPLIOATION FILED JULY-3, 1906.

a SHEETS-SHEET s.

` /NVENTOH BDBEBTMUHEAN W/T/VESSES Arme/VE Ys rientra sfrariis Farmer ernten.

ROBERT MORGAN, OF ELLSWORTH, KARSAS, ASSIGN'OR OF ONE-FOURTH.

TO J. S. COX AND ONE-FOURTH TO lMAN C. MCKALLIP, PUEBLO,

' COLORADO.

CRATE..

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 19, 1907.

Application filed `Tuly 3.1906. Serial No. 324.598. i

improved crate set up. Fig.- 2 is a similar' view of the crate knocked down. Fig. 3 is a partial perspective view of onefside. of the crate. F ig. 4 is a vertical -section through the side. Fig. 5 is a detail view of a part lof the slide; and Fig. 6 is a similar view of the flanges of the bottom, showing the spring-.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of thecatch. crate, showing it partially folded. A

In thepresent embodiment of my invention the crate comprises a to A, a base B, d the top and base being dup icates of each..

other, endsC, and sides D. The top A comprises a rectangular plate (z, 'having end fianges a and spaced inner and outer -side flanges (1,2 (L3, the fianges projecting at right angles from the plate. The bottom B is similar in all respects to the top A and comprises the rectangular plate b, having the-end fianges b and the spaced inner and outer side fianges b2 b3. The ends C are composed of a plurality of hinged framesections c4 c5, covered with netting, one o f the sections being hinged to the top A, as atc, and the other, being .hinged to the bottom B, as at lc. tions c4 c5 are of equal size, and the central hinge c2 is so arranged that the sections fold inwardly upon each other, shoulders c c7 be ing provided for preventing. the outward,

movement of the central hinge. The sides D are composed of a central frame portion d and side frame portions d2. The central por tion d is composed of three sections (Z3, d, and d5, the section (Z4, comprising a horizontal plate, having the sections d3 (Z5 hinged to each side thereof, as at d (Z7, and the section d3 is also hinged to the inner side flange a2 of the top A, as at a, while the section dS-is hinged to the inner side flange b2 ofthe bottomB, as l at b4.

The hinges (Z6 (Z7 are also provided with shoulders (ZS d", whereby to permit the The seen covered with the sides and ends.

sections to fold inwardly and to prevent them from folding outwardly.

The side portions d2 of the sides D cornprise each a plurality of sections (im d, covered with netting and hinged together, as at (112, one of the sections d10 being hinged to a slide (Z13, movable in the space between the inner and outer flanges c2 a3 of the top A, and the other section d being hinged to a slide du., movable inthe space between the inner and outer flanges b2 b3 of the bottom B.

Arms (115 d1 are pivotally connected at one end, as at d1 d2", to the outer flanges a2 b of the top and bottom, respectively, at the Acorners thereof, the opposite end of the arm being pivoted, as at dll d, to the slide in the opposite groove. p

- The crate being set up, as shown in Fig. l, when it is desired to knock it down the side ,portions (Z2 of the sides D are pushed inwardly toward each other and at the same time folded, as are also the ends. It will be evident that the pushing of the side portionsv of the sidestoward each other permits the folding of the ends and that the double joint in `the central portion of the sides permits said central portion to fold over the side portions. l/Vhen the sides and ends have been folded inwardly, the flanges of the top and bottom will be in contact with each other, and the top and bottom may be secured together by the hooks a2 on the top A engag" ing the eyes 57 on the bottom'B. For the purpose of maintaining the crate in its set-up condition I-provide a spring-catchfd, secured to the outer fianges b2 t? and provided with a projection 23, traversing a slot inthe said flange, the said projection engaging that end of the armd15 or d1 pivoted to the slide,

whereby to prevent the movement of the slide, a' thumb-piece (Z22 being provided for manipulating the catch. are slotted at (124 to permit the passage of the pivots connecting the respective arms to the flanges. 1 I

It will be understood that the top A and bottom B might be composed of frames-similar to the ends and sides and the said frames netting, as shown on the lt will be understood that by the peculiar construction of the sides of the crate the said'sides may be extended and contracted longitudinally during the folding and opening of the crate, the contraction of The slides (Z13 (114 log - bottom, andfolding ends hinged-to the top and end portions, saidv central portion being hinged tothe inner llange 'of the top and the bottom' and being divided horizontally into sections, the' sections being hinged togetherl to fold inwardly, said end portion of the sides being hinged tothe slides in the grooves, and divided horizontally into sections, said sections being hinged together to fold inwardly, barsl pivoted tothe respective slides at one end, and tol therouter iang'eof the opposite groove, whereby to permit said end portions to= slide over the -central portion, and means engaging said end portions `for normally retaining them in their outward position.

2. A collapsible 'crate comprising" top and bottom plates, ends hinged to thetop and bottom plates and divided-transversely into sections, said sections being hinged together to foldinwardly, sides comprising a central and endportions, each of saidfportions being divided transversely into sections, said'sections being hinged together ,whereby to permit said portions to fold inwardly, means for moving said en'd Aportions over said central portion, whereby to permit the` folding of the sides and ends, and means for normally' re' taining said end' portions intheir outward position..

3. -A collapsible crate comprising a top and and the bottom, foldable sides comprisinga central and end portions, means whereby said end portions may slide over said central porsaid sidesy comprising a central and end portions, means` whereby said endportions may slide over said central portion during the folding of the erate,randa spring-catch for normally retainingsaid end portions in their outward position.

- 5. A collapsible crate comprising a top and bottom, foldable ends and foldable sides, said sides comprising a fixed central and movable end portions, and means for moving the end portions over the central portion during the folding of the crate.

6. A collapsible crate comprising a top and a bottom, foldable ends, and foldable sides, said sides comprising a plurality of portions, sundry oli-said portions being slidable on the remaining portions whereby to contract the sides .during thefolding of the crate.-

7. A collapsible lcrate comprising a top and a bottom, inwardly-foldable ends and sides, means wherebyl to extend and contract said sides during the folding, and the opening of the crate, and means for normally retaining the crate in its open position.

i 8. vA collapsible crate comprising a top and a bottormhfoldable ends and sides, and means whereby "to extend and contract said sides longitudinally during the folding and unfolding there-0f.

9. Acolla'psible crate comprising a top and bottom,v inwardly-foldable ends and sides, and means whereby to extend and contract said sides during thefold'ing and the opening ofthe crate.. Y

.v 10. A collapsible crate, comprising a top and bottom, foldable ends, sides comprising a plurality of "oldable portions, and means whereby toslidesaid portions upon each other, whereby to contract said sides during Vthe folding of thecrate.

and the sides, whereby-the movement of the" top and bottom toward and fron each other Will contract and'extend the sides 'in the dreetion of their length. Y

" ROBERT MORGAN.

Witnesses:

ALFRED W. ARRINGTON, J, E. RiznR'.

IOC 

